POINT AU BARIL, Ontario — Unlike many summer homes, the cottage and bunkie built for a kite surfer on Whistling Wind Island – one of the furthest inhabited islands from the mainland -- are surrounded on most sides by wrap-around decks for taking in panoramic views in every direction. Their asymmetric shapes fan out over the terrain with steps angled in harmony with the natural topology of the sediment rock.

Designed by Akb Architects, the cottage is comprised of a cluster of buildings, each scaled proportionately to the island's one-acre size. Four pitch-roofed structures, harmoniously clad in silver-weathered cedar shingles, appear as though tossed around by the wind. In certain light conditions, they are barely discernible from the brownish-grey rocks surrounding them. The main cottage is at the highest elevation. A bunkie, a sauna, and a boat storage containing a small fitness room are located on different outcroppings and reachable via wooden plank gangways that link to boat landings and fill gaps between rocks.

The main room of the cottage is comprised of an open kitchen, a generous dining area and a living room featuring a full-height fireplace wall made of local Muskoka granite slabs. Custom-made cedar whitewashed boards on the walls run horizontally to echo the continual presence of the location's dominant water and sky horizon line. Matching wood planks line the cathedral ceiling, providing a contemporary interpretation of a gabled wood form found in traditional cottages.

The same material application is used in the bunkie, giving both interiors the warmth of being fully enveloped by natural wood walls, ceilings and floors. Likewise, the exterior of each building is continuously clad on the roof and walls with Western Red Cedar shakes, creating a stereotomic reading of each form from which the windows and interior volumes appear to have been carved out of an otherwise solid mass. Given the large triple-paned windows, the building interiors are ideal for watching the dramatic summer storms that are characteristic of Pointe Au Baril.

At 1,800 square feet, the main cottage houses two bedrooms, a shared ensuite bathroom, and a laundry room in addition to the communal kitchen, dining and living areas. The bunkie is a about a half-size version of the cottage, designed to sleep up to four in two bedrooms with a shared bathroom. A large flagstone fireplace at its core separates the bedrooms from a kitchenette with desk and lounge area with a pair of loveseats. While woodburning fireplaces in both indulge the sensation of elemental living, they are also the sole heat source, eliminating the need for mechanical backup systems. 

The cottaging season in Pointe Au Baril is short-lived as it is governed by the months in which the islands can be accessed by boat. By November, the ice begins to form on the lake, bringing the season to a close. In order to protect the buildings through the harsh winter months, recessed aluminum garage-like doors roll down to cover the windows and the floating docks are removed from the water.

Credits
Architecture team: Kelly Buffey, Robert Kastelic, Donald Peckover, Byron White, Tim Wat, Antonio Morais, Nicole Rak

Furniture Curation: Anne Hepfer Design Inc.